South Korea Kicks Off Dismantling of First Nuclear Reactor

2025-06-28 07:05:09

(MENAFN) South Korea officially decommissioned its first nuclear reactor on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s energy transition. The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) announced the move, confirming that the full dismantling of the reactor will span approximately 12 years due to complexities surrounding the construction of spent nuclear fuel storage facilities. The process was reported by local media.

Unit 1 of the Kori Nuclear Power Plant, located in the southeastern city of Busan, was permanently shut down in June 2017, after nearly 40 years of service since its commissioning in April 1978.

In May of last year, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co began a chemical decontamination process to remove radioactive materials from the reactor, a crucial step in the decommissioning process.

South Korea currently operates 20 of its 26 nuclear reactors, generating 20,854 megawatts of electricity. Meanwhile, five reactors are under regulatory maintenance, and one reactor has been suspended following decades of operation.

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